Larry Greenaway – Diamonds – August 15, 1999

Malachi 3:16-17, “Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another, and the Lord hearkened, and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. ‘And they shall be mine,’ saith the Lord of host, ‘In that day when I make up My jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.'”
God was looking for those that feared Him in Malachi’s day. Those who heeded the message that Malachi spoke would reap eternal benefits. God is still looking for those that fear Him, think upon His Name and speak often to each other about Him. There are few today that fear God but there are a few simple things we can do that causes the God of Heaven to take notice: fearing God, thinking upon His name, and speaking often about God to each other or others. God does take notice of our thoughts. They are not private. And our thoughts, of course, affect our actions. In the process of time, the devil has worked, and there are few who have a wholesome fear of God. Also in the process of time, God is making up His jewels – those who are willing to have sterling qualities worked into their lives. God will one day assemble these jewels and they will comprise a great multitude. This great multitude will consist of all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples which cannot be numbered by man (Revelations 7:9).
Recently I visited an exhibition in San Diego called “The Nature of Diamonds.” While there, I learned many things about diamonds. They are made from Carbon, which is something very common and worthless. This Carbon is found as graphite lead used in pencils and also as coal. Deep within the earth’s surface, unseen to mankind, there are forces of terrific heat and unrelenting pressure. It is through this process of heat and pressure that gradually can transform something that by nature is worthless into something that is priceless. When God begins to work in a life, there isn’t much there that is of value to God. Through the process of time, God brings a life through experiences that can produce gem-like qualities. Even the diamonds themselves don’t understand the process they are going through. There are many difficult experiences an individual can go through in this life, but many sterling qualities can be produced that are of value to God.
Diamonds are very rare. They occur in the earth as 1 part in 40 million. Or in other words, you have to search through 40 million parts of earth to find just one diamond. Diamond mines are very expensive operations and the process of finding a diamond comes at a great expense and effort. We saw diamonds of different sizes, colors, and shapes, but all were rare and precious jewels. Man can make artificial diamonds, but man cannot make a true diamond. Diamonds cleave to certain things and repel certain things.
God’s jewels shun those things that are base and empty, and are attracted to the eternal, simple qualities of Jesus. Many of the diamonds displayed were viewed using a dark background and illuminated with a strong light. This arrangement greatly enhanced their beauty.
In Revelations 21, we read of the heavenly Jerusalem which will be comprised of many different kinds of gems. In Revelations 21:23, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it. For the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” In the heavenly Jerusalem, neither the sun nor the moon will be needed; the jewels will be illuminated by Christ, the Lamb of God. These qualities that God has produced in the lives of His people will be enhanced in heaven by the light of the Lamb of God.
Throughout the exhibit, there was no mention of the price of these diamonds, but I knew they were costly. We know something of the price Jesus paid so that we can have a place in the heavenly Jerusalem and are thankful and humbled.
**Not verbatim